San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-05-07
PASTORAIE.

The excursion to the mountains prov
ed most successful. Even party con-
| sisting of two pairs of lovers and an
| elderly lady may be thoroughly enjoy
| able, if the latter. as the case with Lady
| CastlefOrt, is willing to sit quietly alone
while the others stroll about according
| to their fancy. My lady had vein Of
sentiment in her composition, and
| amused herself with fancying that she
was making match between Carl and
ViOletta, when the truth was that their
| relations were far more near than she
could have fancied. Lady Castlefort had
conceived a strong liking for Violetta,
and the most naughty patrician could
not have objected to the maiden's blood.
The Duke di MOcciri had promised to
| Join the party before he returned home,
and his name having been introduced
by Lord Castlefort's announcement of
this as they stood together about sun
set, the duke became the subject of con-
versation.
at is amusing" remarked the count,
ito hear the stories that are told of the
duke. He is by reputation second
Cagliostro."
But it is not at all amusing to me"
Violetta said naively; lit may all be
true. The marquis, my father, knew a
poet who asked the duke for proof of
his power and the duke made apOem
live"
"Then he is indeed a magician"
laughed Castlefort. THAT is more than
most of the poets can do"
you may laugh" returned Violetta,
"but know it was So"
Convincing logic" her lover retOTted.
TN what shape did it live?"
NO." she said, pOuting, Il am not 60
ing to be laughed at. But it is all true"
"How beautiful the bay is" FraZOlina
| observed, turning the conversation.
1t was the Bay of Naples, that gem Of
the world. In the distance lay Capri
and Ischia, their outlines in bold relief
against the clear sky. Vesuvius, like
hOar-headed giant, stood watching the
land of whose beauty he is so jealous
that when his rage breaks forth he
spares nothing. The evening breeze
just rippled the surface of the water,
and so darkened it under the home
ward-bOund boats. The air over the
land was heavy with the awakening
perfumes of flowers that steal forth at
eventide; the birds were not yet silent,
though the convent bells sounded from
afar.
AS Ullty SlltllJ Ill
they were interrupted by the arrival of
the duke, to whom this was the ap-
pointed rendezvous. He was a tall,
gross man of middle age when with such
men the passions are most ardent, with
firmly-set head and mfathomable
eyes.
In the manner of the new conner to-
wards Frazolina Lord Castlefort fan
cied he perceived some faint sign of pre-
vious acquaintance, but so slight were
the tokens that he was not himself sure
that they were more than the creation
of his own fancy. Never before had
FraZOlina been more lovely. Her dark
hair was confined in loose knot at the
back of her Shapely head, and shaded,
while it did not conceal, her delicate
temples. \ pale red rose was placed
with careless grace above one of her
shell-like ears, from which depended
heavy pendants of antique gold. Her
cheeks We're family flushed, her eyes
moist and dilated. Her glance was fix
ed upon the count, to whom she related
a legend she had that day heard from
the marquis, and, as she spoke, she toy
ed carelessly with the hand of ViOletta,
upon whom she leaned. Her cOmpan-
ions reunder countenance and figure
formed a pleasing foil for FrazOlina's
oval, intense face. The two were so diff
ferent that it was quite impossible to
compare them, and both gained by the
contrast.
Lady Castlefort engaged the duke in
conversation, and thus it happened that
when the four lovers walked farther on
the elders We're left alone. The CONVEX
sation, under the dukes clever guild
ance, soon turned upon FraZOlina; and
Lady CastlefOrt, glad of an opportunity
of pouring out her peTpleXities, and not
averse to having duke for cOntidaL t,
became very communicative.
"She is charming" her ladyship said,
after detailing u some length the cir
cumstances of FraZolina's arrival; "and
yet she is odd. dear girl. She never
speaks of her mother, and when L ask
any question relating to her family she
has somehow seemed so troubled and
puzzled that have let the subject drop.
There is some mystery about her. Per-
haps she is not haDDv with her mother.